Thessaloniki Port Authority Investing Millions in Expansion Projects

Thessaloniki port. Photo source: ThPA.

As part of ongoing efforts to establish the Port of Thessaloniki into a major transport hub in Southeastern Europe, the Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) announced that it would be investing 45 million euros in projects in 2023 and was currently looking into ways to launch a railway link from the port to North Macedonia.

The news was announced by Executive Chairman of the BoD and Managing Director of ThPA SA, Thanos Liagkos in an interview to Naftemporiki.

Thessaloniki port. Photo source: ThPA.

Liagkos said this year’s investment budget would be going into a number of upgrade projects including 8 million euros into the container terminal, 18 million euros into port infrastructure and warehouse upgrades, 3 million euros into the passenger terminal and the remaining sum into the installation of photovoltaics across ThPA buildings, the installation of  access control systems (ISPS) and infrastructure software systems so that the port would convert to “smart” and paperless operations.

Referring to the Pier VI extension project budgeted at 150 million euros, Liagkos told Naftemporiki that ThPA was awaiting a presidential decree approving the master plan expected in the second half of the year and that the company was ready to launch works immediately.

Thessaloniki port. Photo source: ThPA.

In the meantime, he said the ThPA was in talks for the launch of a new fixed railway connection between the port with Balkan countries, and specifically with North Macedonia, following the dry port it established in Sofia (Bulgaria) and the rail connection with Nis in Serbia.

“The geostrategic position of the port of Thessaloniki is to serve central and northeastern Europe. The ThPA’s strategy is to extend to the north so that the port of Thessaloniki can serve countries that cannot be served by other ports,” he said.

In 2022, ThPA SA reported a 5.6 percent rise in total consolidated revenues to 82.2 million euros from 77.9 million euros in 2021, while parent company revenue increased by 4.8 percent to 80.6 million euros in 2022 from 76.9 million euros in 2021.

Thessaloniki port. Photo source: ThPA.

Passenger traffic at the port of Thessaloniki generated an additional 0.3 million euros in revenue up by 62.4 percent. A total of 61 cruise ships approached the port in 2022, up from 17 arrivals in 2021, with 50 percent of those arrivals home porting.

Looking ahead, Liagkos expects a good year with significant progress in the cruise segment set to boost the local and national economy. Approximately 70 cruise ship arrivals are scheduled for 2023. The benefits of the cruise segment for Thessaloniki will be discussed during the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum 2023 to be held in the city on April 25-26.

The port of Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest container port.